planetf1.com

With the 2017 season already closed, Indy Car teams have made post-season big moves and before the Sonoma finale. Huge announcements were made official and others are yet to be confirmed. Rest assure that 2018 would be the best season. And will have a brand new aero kit and chassis. The grid is 3/4 of the way and here is how the line-ups will be made.

Andretti Autosport will be the only 4-car team on the grid. They retained Alexander Rossi with a 2-year extension alongside Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti. The latest change for the team is multiple-time Indy Lights winner Zach Veach as their 4th driver. Stefan Wilson will be the 5th entry for the Indianapolis 500.

Penske's operation will become a 3-car team (Or should I say... a 3 champion team) with 2017 series champion Josef Newgarden, 2016 champion Simon Pagenaud, and 2014 champion Will Power. Helio Castroneves has moved to the Penske Sports Car operation. He will become the 4th entry for the Indianapolis 500.

Chip Ganassi have cut their entries to 2 with Scott Dixon as their returnee. CGR are in verge to possibly have an all-kiwi line-up with the return of Brandon Hartley to open-wheel. If they make this work, the 2015 World Endurance Champion (Along with Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard) and 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans winner ( With Timo Bernhard and Earl Bember ) could run with Rookie of the year honors. He and his fellow drivers continue to lead the WEC as they go to Fuji next weekend. No official announcement is made. But it is likely to be after the end of the FIA-WEC season.

Also with a 2-car operation, Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan will have the return of Takuma Sato to the team after his years with AJ Foyt Racing and Andretti Autosport joining Graham Rahal. There could be a possible 3rd full-time entry.

Ed Carpenter Racing will have a 2-car operation with Spencer Pigot going full-time and will driver the #21 car thus releasing JR Hildebrand. JR could return to Indy 500 duties with the team unless he gets picked up by another team. Driver-Owner Ed Carpenter will once again do ovals while waiting on the announcement for a road-course driver. Sage Karam and former F1 driver Giedo Van Der Garde are on the list.

Dale Coyne will likely retain Sebastien Bourdais and Ed Jones.

AJ Foyt Racing just officially announced veteran Tony Kannan to drive the legendary #14 car. No word if Carlos Munoz or Conor Daly would take the 2nd car.

While Schmidt Peterson Motorsports awaits on where James Hinchcliffe would go and who will drive the #7 entry, the team wasted no time to fill their 3rd Indy 500 entry with Tristan Gommendy.

To the new entries.

The most anticipated announcement would be possibly Trevor Carlin making his entry to the Indy Car series. And the line-up could consist with Carlin alumni Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball who have driven in the past during their F1 ladder series.

Harding Racing will have Gabby Chaves who raced a few events this year.

Juncos Racing are yet to finalize their terms for a full-time entry. 2017 Indy Lights Champion Kyle Kaiser will have 3 races based for winning the $1M prize.

Michael Shank would possibly focus with the Indy 500 for now.

The names are endless.

GO CUBS!!!!!!

It'd be a shame if Hinch doesn't have a drive next year.

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I sure agree with that.

Surprise signing. Air is clear.

With Brandon Hartley already committed with STR and a permanent seat, Chip Ganassi has signed Ed Jones for the #10 car for 2018. There was no way Hartley could not refuse a huge contract. Especially when he is still a Red Bull driver.

UPDATED GRID AS OF OCTOBER 25 (TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20). Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais.

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW).

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS.

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN

Shank and Carlin: Yet to determine in regards about sponsorship.

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Tristan Gommendy ( 3rd SPM Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry)

Available drivers:

Kimball
Gutierrez
Hildebrand
Nasr
Chilton
Urrutia
Daly
Saavedra
Harvey
De Melo
Munoz

Just added:
Enerson
Leist

http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/10/25/ed-jones-signed-to-ganassis-no-10-car-for-indycar-2018/

Jack Harvey has funding for a 6-race deal. But yet to be signed by a team.

I predict it could go to Michael Shank Racing.

For awhile, I was concerned about Hinchcliffe, but apparently SPM released a statement that their pursuit of a second driver delayed them re-signing Hinchliffe.

This is an interesting pairing because Hinchcliffe and Wickens are sincerely good friends. They raced through karts together, they were even team mates in 2007 at A1GP.


https://www.tomotorsports.com/image/data/HinchTown/Hinchtoon_GWN_CanadaDehweb.jpg

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racer.com

TEAM BRAZIL FOR AJ FOYT RACING!!!
Matheus Leist to drive the #4 car.

UPDATED GRID AS OF NOVEMBER 16:(TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20). Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais.

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW).

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS.

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN, LEIST

Shank and Carlin: Yet to determine in regards about sponsorship.

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Tristan Gommendy ( 3rd SPM Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry)

Available drivers:

Kimball
Gutierrez
Hildebrand
Nasr
Chilton
Urrutia
Daly
Saavedra
Harvey
De Melo
Munoz
Enerson

BOSS WANTS TO HAVE A CHURRASCARIA!!!!!

http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/11/11- ... oyt-Racing

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Tristan Gommendy ( 3rd SPM Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry). Patrick (To Be Determined).

UPDATED.

Deleted - duplicate.

Munoz is good, I hope he can find a ride.

As predicted: Harvey to race with Michael Shank Racing via Schmidt Peterson. And looking for 6 events at least.

Surprise signing. Air is clear.

Chip Ganassi has signed Ed Jones for the #10 car for 2018.

UPDATED GRID AS OF OCTOBER 25 (TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20). Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais.

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW).

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS. HARVEY ( Via Michael Shank Racing )

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN, LEIST

Carlin is yet to determine in regards about sponsorship.

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry), Danica (Undetermined)

Available drivers:

Kimball
Gutierrez
Hildebrand
Nasr
Chilton
Urrutia
Daly
Saavedra
De Melo
Munoz
Enerson

www.indycar.com/News/2017/12/12-08-Harv ... nouncement

indycar.com

Marco and Alex are swapping numbers.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/12/12- ... umber-swap

A huge sad ending for Tristian Gommendy debut. SPM and Camels Sport will not materialize for the 102nd running of the Indy 500.

https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news ... ds-986893/

Carlin have joined Indycar

https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/ ... e-for-2018

Trevor just kept himself busy just as he is returning to the Formula 2 series.

UPDATED GRID AS OF DECEMBER 12 (TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20). Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais.

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW).

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS. HARVEY ( Via Michael Shank Racing )

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN, LEIST

Carlin:
KIMBALL, CHILTON

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry), Danica (Undetermined)

Available drivers:

Gutierrez
Hildebrand
Nasr
Urrutia
Daly
Saavedra
De Melo
Munoz
Enerson

Former GP2 driver and Manor F1 tester Jordan King has joined Ed Carpenter Racing for the road and street courses. This leaves 1 Dale Coyne seat to fill.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2018/01/01- ... ter-Racing

UPDATED GRID AS OF JANUARY 4TH (TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20),KING to compete in the road and street courses. Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais.

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW).

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS. HARVEY ( Via Michael Shank Racing )

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN, LEIST

Carlin:
KIMBALL, CHILTON

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry), Danica (Undetermined)

Available drivers:

Gutierrez
Hildebrand
Nasr
Urrutia
Daly
Saavedra
De Melo
Munoz
Enerson
Matt Brabham

I don't always comment on indycar stuff but good news for Jordan King to get a ride in the series this year, it's not full time and does not include ovals but it's still very good news for him and for British motorsport.

But at least Ed should provide a 3rd car for the Indy 500 only.

In an unprecedented move, Juncos Racing - 1 of 3 new Indy Car teams - will have Austrian Rene Binder for at least 4 events. But there could be possibly 6 with the addition of the Indy GP and the Indy 500 for the former FV8 3.5 driver.

http://www.indycar.com/News/2018/01/01- ... cos-Racing

The grid ins complete: Dale Coyne Racing will split their cars with rookies Zachary Claman De Melo, and the 2017 FV8 3.5 Series champion Pietro Fittipaldi.

UPDATED GRID AS OF FEBRUARY 5TH (TO NEW TEAM IN BOLD. ROOKIE IN BOLD AND ITALIC) :

Andretti Autosport:
Marco Andretti, RHR, Rossi, VEACH

Chip Ganassi:
Scott Dixon, JONES

Rahal-Letterman-Lanigan:
Graham Rahal, SATO.

Penske:
Pagenaud, Power, Newgarden.

ECR:
Carpenter (Ovals only for the #20),KING to compete in the road and street courses. Pigot moves to the #21.

DCR:
Bourdais (In conjuction with Jimmy Vasser and James Sullivan), Mann (Possibly 2 ovals only) P. FITTIPALDI (For 7 races), CLAMAN DE MELO (For 10 races)

Harding:
Chaves already confirmed.

Juncos:
KAISER: for 4 events. (FOR NOW). BINDER for 4 events.

SPM:
Hinchcliffe, WICKENS. HARVEY ( Via Michael Shank Racing )

AJ Foyt:
KANNAN, LEIST

Carlin:
KIMBALL, CHILTON

INDY 500 ONLY: Castroneves (4th Penske Entry). Stefan Wilson (5th Andretti Entry), Danica (Undetermined), 4th Dale Coyne Entry.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/14721 ... -time-grid